A Design Brushestrokes

adesign welcomes makeup artist Kat Flynt as a guest blogger

Posted 04 February, 2010, at 10:15AM by Leslie

An Airbrushed Look with a Foundation Brush
By Kat Flynt

As a makeup artist, I am often asked how to achieve an airbrushed look without using an airbrush system.

I love to use a sheer liquid foundation with a matte finish (examples: Mat Lumiere by Chanel or Studio Fix Fluid by MAC and a foundation brush.) Using a liquid foundation that dries to a matte finish provides a buildable coverage allowing you to layer a little extra foundation on the areas that need more coverage. Using a foundation brush provides a more flawless coverage than using your finger tips or a sponge. To demonstrate this point when teaching a makeup class I show the students foundation applied to a mirror with a sponge, with fingertips, and with a brush so they can more clearly see the coverage difference between each of the different application techniques using the exact same liquid foundation. Students are amazed at the difference in coverage when foundation is applied with a foundation brush; not to mention that no product is wasted as it is when using a sponge.

Summary:
For a flawless foundation finish – try using a foundation brush instead of your fingertips or sponge for application of your liquid foundation.

Interested in learning more? The Kat Flynt Makeup Academy in Atlanta offers great makeup application classes for all levels of learning.

Also, if you are in the Atlanta area, join other industry professionals for a time of learning, networking, and great giveaways at the Makeup Artists of Atlanta Social. Enter to win an adesign apron set at the next social on March 7.

Don’t forget! Kat Flynt and adesign are both on facebook, so check out our fan pages for all the latest and greatest news!

Winter Wonderful Skin

Posted 06 January, 2010, at 03:43PM by Leslie

During the winter months the harsh temperatures can leave skin feeling dry, cracked and dehydrated.

Here are some quick tips to help cure dry and irritated winter skin.

1. Try using a humidifier in your bedroom. This will add moisture into the air and will help prevent drying or cracking of the skin.
2. Use a moisture based cream or lotion. And don’t forget to moisturize often, morning and night! This will help create a protective layer on the skin during harsh temperatures and weather.
3. Don’t forget about using an SPF. Remember the sun’s powers are just as strong during the winter as they are in the summer months, and can still cause damage to your skin. Many moisturizers and some foundations come standard with SPF, which is great, just be sure it contains at least SPF 15.
4. Apply a body lotion/cream within minutes of getting out of the shower or bath; this will help lock in moisture. Another tip, try applying sweet almond oil just before you get out of the shower, then towel off.
5.Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! Whether you like to use a body scrub, body brush or loofah it’s up to you. Exfoliating at least once a week will help get rid of dry and flaky skin.

We would love to hear from you-what tips do you utilize during winter weather? What are your favorite products that help you stay moisturized and glowing when it gets cold?

Changes at adesign: Letter from Shana King

Posted 11 December, 2009, at 11:35AM by Shana King

Dear adesign customers,

It is with joy and sadness that I must send you all a sincere goodbye. The time has come for me to move on to new opportunities. As a result, I will be leaving adesign effective immediately. You can be absolutely confident that you will continue to receive the same great products and excellent customer service as always.

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with each and everyone of you over the past 4 years. Hopefully our paths will cross paths once again in the future.

Moving forward, please direct any communication normally addressed to me to NaTasha at NaTasha@adesignbrushes.com.

May you have continued success & happiness in 2010!

Warm regards,
Shana King

The hottest looks this season brought to you at home

Posted 17 November, 2009, at 04:03PM by Shana King

Purple is the big color for fall and winter 2009. Search for deep berry colors to switch up the usual monotone smoky eye.

The emphasis is all about the eyes. Looks that accentuate and bring out your eyes will be the looks to go after. One option that we love is from Clinique, the Color Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Plum Seduction – and seduce it will! With two plum colors, and a steel and smoky gray color in this quad, it gives you enough choices to really play and make an impact.

Also, be sure to get those brows sculpted and under control, and they will really help to frame the new eye shadow for this season. There are several great kits out there to help sculpt brows, but we like Urban Decay’s Brow Box which comes with everything you need to create a polished eyebrow-even mini tweezers!

If you don’t want to play up your eyes as much, make an impact with that pretty pout, instead! For your lips, go for gorgeous reds from fire engine red to deep burgundy shades. Not sure what shade is the best for you? Check out this guide of Julie Hewett shades on girlynation.com for some great tips on choosing the right one.

Neutral lips will be the perfect accompaniment if you choose to do the more dramatic, dark sexy eyes.

The 80’s are back – yes you heard me right. So have fun and look back into your yearbooks for inspiration… Or just watch some great movie classics like “Pretty in Pink”, “The Breakfast Club,” or “Girls Just Wanna’ Have Fun.”

1 Brush 5 Ways—”The Pointed” Foundation Brush

Posted 09 October, 2009, at 02:59PM by Shana King

Using your adesign pointed concealer brush:

1. Concealer—Glides evenly under the eye for an easy application of your concealer. The pointed shape works great with coverage of dark circles and redness.

2. Foundation—Smoothly covers large surface areas on the face while achieving detailed results. Use this foundation brush under your eye, around your nose and hairline.

3. Shadow—Use brush to apply shadow over the entire surface of the eye. Also use this brush as a blender to soften shadows together.

4. Blush—Blends and applies cream and liquid blush without streaks. Fabulous for a dewy finish and glow.

5. Moisturizer & Night Cream—Apply your favorite moisturizer or cream to the tip of the brush, start in the centre of the face working gently outwards towards the hairline.